Breastplate and protector.



UNITED u sTATEs PATENT OFFICE. 4 1

NEW JERSEY.

.ALBERT LOUPPE, OF BREST, FRANCE, ASSIGNOR T0 EDWARD MAURER, 0F DUNELLII',

l BREASTPLATE AND'PROTECTOB.

Application ledAugust 31, 1915, Serial No. 4$,165.

-against bullets or projectiles, and particuvlarly for use in trench fighting as carmed on in modern method of warfare: o

. It is an object of ,the invention to provide .such a device which may be conveniently manipulated, and which will .be a' thorough protection against bullets of various sizes, and will be so constructed as to absorb or retain the fragments produced when the bullet hits the shield, thereby preventing injur .from this cause.

t is also an object to provide 1n such a device, means to enable the convenient firing of a riiie from behind'the same,

With these and other objects in view, my

invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, and will be hereinafter more fully described with reference thereto, and-finally 'pointed out in the claims.

In thedrawingsy Figure 1 is a rear elevation ofv my im proved shield.

Fig. 2 isa sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevationl of the .steel employedv in my improved shield.

Fig. 4 is a view o/f the` cover piece used at.. each side, and also the intermediate fragment absorbing member.

Fig. 5 is a sectional 'viewshowing the plate front and rear cover andthe said interme-4 diate member, and

Fig. 6 isa sectional'view on the line 6-6 ofFig. 1. i l Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the -several views. I

Referring to thedrawings, and morepa'r ticularlyf'to Fig. 1 thereof, my invention com rises a, bullet-proof inner 4plate 10, of steer or other suitableresistant material, and of a shape to conform to the body of the soldier, a cut out portion 11 being pro- Specication of Letters Patent.

vtion of Athe cover, by the Patented Dec. 18, 1917. Renewed september 1s, 19411. seriai m1191331?.

vided in the upper right-hand corner, to enable a rilie to be fired from `behind the same. The said plate is preferably slightly rounded. A11 outer envelop or cover 12, to` contain the steel plate 10, is provided of canvas or other `suitable cotton cloth,` the-.

outer portions of which extends beyond the.'

edge of the steel. plate, and are folded in;`

`wardly and secured at 13, the folded in portions being provided with serrations 14- at the curved lower end of the shield'and at the corners to vpermit a iat fold. iexible outer rim is thereby formed whichserves as a pad for resting the shield and valso protects other soldiers in a charge, for instance, from the hard edges of the` steel plate. The cover 12 is referably formed of several thicknesses yo canvas, so that itwill'notbe readily worn out from the rough usage to which such devices are put, uand theu outer or `the'lil' e 15,v preferably eight to ten in number and secured in place b stitching 16 extending through the fold/o the forward portion of the canvas.

In manufacturing the shield, these layers 14 are first secured in place "beneath the fold of the forward porstitching 16, the steel plate'l() is put in place and the rear Vportionof the cover is then secured in place, the outer row of stitching 13'as clearly s own in Fig. 3. l

A great deal of the force of the bullet will be taken up passing through the layer 15, therebyv materially reducing, the impact ragainst the plate 10. When the bullet comesv incontact with the hard surface of the .plate 10 however, itshatters andthe fragments which occur, are ocketed between the various layers, there y preventing any injury which could likely occur, should these fragments be unrestricted, Vorshould the bullet glance olf vin a different direction. To prevent movement of the steel plate 10 within the envelop 12, a number of rivets 17 are secured at suitable distances through the shield,adjacent the edge of the plate. A hand'gri 18 is secured at the right hand side of t e shield and a strap 19 passing tion,

through an adjustable buckle 20 is provided at the left for securing the shield to the forearm of the soldier. Button-holes 21, are

arranged in the -rear portion of the cover 12,'

1 tion against hand grenades, bombs and other such agencies of modern Warfare. Because of its shape, construction and color, it will prove a useful barrier to protect sharpshooters, outposts and the like, and may also be used with decided effect in charges in close formation, advancing the lines of trenches, etc. y

The thickness of the steel plate, the number of thicknesses of canvas, etc., it will be understood, may be varied to meet the various conditions under which these shields will be used.

VI have described and illustrated a preferred and satisfactory form of my invenbut it is obvious, that changes may be made therein, within the spirit and scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a shield of the character described, an inner bullet resisting plate, an outer inclosing envelop comprising front and rear rtions, and an inner absorbent member at the bullet exposed side of the shield, comprising a plurality of layers Vof material aving their respective adjacent surfaces unattached, disposed between 'said bullet resisting plate and the front portion of the envelop, the spaces between said layers of material constituting pockets adapted to ocket the fragments of bullets, produced y contact with the bullet resisting plate.-

2. In a shield of the character described, an inner bullet resisting plate, an outer inclosing envelop comprisingv front and rear portions and an inner absorbent member at the bulletexposed side of the shield comrising a plurality of layers of canvas having their respectlve adjacent surfaces unattached, disposed between saidbullet resistin plate and the front portion of the envelop, the spaces between said .layers of canvas, constituting pockets adapted to pocket the 'by contact with the bullet resisting plate.

fragments ofbullets, produced 3. In a shield of the character described, an inner bullet resisting plate, provided with a cut out rifle receiving portion, an outer inclosing envelop comprising front and rear portions, and provided with a cut out rifle receiving portion, disposed Within the cutout portion of the plate, a hand grip and an adjustable arm engaging member on s aid rear portion of the envelop, and an inner absorbent member comprising a plurality of layers of material disposed between the said plate and the front portion of the envelop and adaptedto pocket the fragments of bullets, produced by contact with the resisting plate.

4. an inner bullet resisting plate, provided with a cut out rifle receiving portion, an youter inclosing envelop comprising front and rear portions, and provided with a cut out riie receiving portion, disposed within the cutout portion of the plate, a hand grip and an adjustable arm engaging member on said rear portion of the envelop, and an inner absorbent member comprising a plurality of layers of material disposed between the said' plate and the front portion of the envelop and adapted to pocket the fragments of b lets, produced'by contact with the resistingplate, and means on said shield for attaching the same to the uniform of the soldier.

5. In a shield of the character described, an inner bullet resisting plate, an outer inclosing envelop comprising front and rear portions of larger area than said inner resisting plate, an inner absorbent member comprising a plurality of layers of material, disposed between the said plate and the front portion of the envelop, and adapted to In a shield of the character described, I

pocket the fragments:y of bullets produced by contact withthe shield, and means connectin the front and rear portions of the enve o and retaining the resistin plate eentral y thereof, to orm a -iexib e marginal portion to the shield.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name in presence .of two subscribing witnesses.

ALBERT LOUPPE.

AWitneea:

` G. Nnnnm',

En. Mamma.. 

